Theyve still got options they can pull to free up another like 20M. All they have to do is commit to not cutting Cooper and to overpaying Zeke for an extra year. These are pre-negotiated switches built into their contracts, the players have no further say.
Doing so might make 2024 suck, I super don't care. Can't believe I need to say this to Jerry of all people but flip the switches and go all in for once. We've got a window here while our offense is stupidly potent if we can just field a defense in the top 20.
Like it or not I'd absolutely accept cap hell in 2024 to 2025 if it means we're taking a real shot in 2021 and 2022. This is the game these days.
Going to alter what I said about us being done just slightly. McCarthy mentioned that the team has talked to several veteran quarterbacks, so that last bit of the money that we freed up for free agency might be spent there.
Still don't think we plan to restructure any other contracts because the Joneses have done what they do in free agency, paid for bodies to fill in spots.
Lost vet backup swing tackle (Erving). Brought in backup vet swing tackle (Nysekhe).
Didn't re-sign vet third DE (Aldon Smith). Brought in vet third DE (Basham).
Needed DL help after McCoy and Poe didn't work out last year. Brought in DL help (Urban, Watkins).
Needed to re-sign our perfect long-snapper (Ladouceur). Signed a younger perfect long-snapper (McQuaide).
Lost vet backup linebacker (Thomas) and haven't brought back Lee. Signed starting LB/SS (Neal). Might bring back Lee, but I don't expect it.
Not re-signing starting FS Woods. Signed starting FS Kazee. Also, added backup SS Kearse, which could be looked at as the roster replacement for Thomas as a special teammer and is similar to Neal in that he could play some linebacker.
Starting corner (Awuzie) leaves, nickel corner (Lewis) re-signed. This is the only one where we didn't make an addition to the roster, although since Canady sat out last year, he could be counted as the numbers addition. Most likely, Brown would be looked at as the starter if Dallas doesn't go corner early in the draft.
If that's the case, quarterback is the only spot where we didn't in some way replace what we lost. However, it could be argued that with Dak returning, the roster spot is covered because we added both Gilbert and Rush after losing Prescott.